Good Behavior Gets the Green
Methods to curb speeding have evolved through the years, from officers using speed guns to automated cameras issuing tickets. But sometimes, punishing violators may be less effective than rewarding drivers for following the rules. That’s an approach Albuquerque and Portland have been adopting through a system commonly known as “rest in red.”
Adoption remains limited, so many drivers may not know what it is. For context, a rest in red system keeps traffic lights red by default. The versions used in Albuquerque and Portland use sensors to turn lights green earlier for drivers traveling at or below the speed limit. This approach can encourage drivers to slow down, as speeding would likely leave them stopped at an intersection. Albuquerque also operates nearby speed cameras, which officials say have made the approach even stronger.
Slow Is the New Fast
AP reported that Albuquerque officials credit the system with a dramatic drop in crashes and injuries along Lead and Coal avenues. Meanwhile, the first intersection tested on Southeast Powell Boulevard in Portland saw average speeds drop from 39 mph to the posted 30 mph during the late-night rollout.
Even without the incentive of turning green earlier for compliant drivers, a 2023 study of five rural and urban roads in North Carolina found a 43% reduction in total crashes after a simpler rest in red system was implemented around the clock. That version kept lights red until vehicles approached, without using speed sensors to reward drivers…